Cliffie Jean Nalley

Cliffie Jean McCurley-Nalley was born on August 27th, 1935 in Senora, AR, the daughter of Josiah and Mary Palestine (Pennington) McCurley. She was raised in a household with four sisters and three brothers, Monty, Nettie, Hartzel, Verna, Melvin, Joy and Mary Jo. She graduated from Fayetteville High School and then crossed the border into Oklahoma to attend Bethany University. She attained her Masters Degree in Education, specializing in English and Spanish language. She met and married Roy P. Hill Sr. in 1957. Together they raised a family of one son and one daughter, Roy Jr and Cindy. Roy Sr. passed from this life in 1982. Jean would meet and marry James Edward Nalley on March 5th, 1988, in Jonesboro AR. Together they combined family for fun and a life full of happy memories. Jean had been involved in Church as long as anyone could remember. In her younger days, she attended the Church of the Nazarene. Later, she would join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was an active member, playing piano, singing in her rich alto voice, and since the early 90’s, teaching in the Sunday School classes. Her love of music allowed her to teach herself piano, and to get her children involved in singing in the church. Her family was so very precious to her. She loved time spent with her grand and great grandchildren. She loved to gather them for a holiday meal featuring her wonderful sweet potato casserole, and other wonderful dishes. She was artistic, and taught herself to draw with faces being a favorite subject. You could often find Jean out in the yard, working in her flower beds often in the company of her canine companions, Laverne and Shirley. To know Jean was to know the perfect southern bell. She was sweet, kind, gentle, loving to all, and never without a positive, uplifting manner. Her family rarely saw in her the slightest amount of disagreement. Even when her health became diminished, Jean was smiling, welcoming and kind. Her husband died in 2020, leaving Jean to enjoy the company of the family she loved. The Lord called this artistic servant home from her many labors on Saturday, June 12th, 2021 in Tahlequah, OK. Jean was 85 years old and will be greatly missed.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Mother and Father, all of her brothers, Monty, Hartzel and Melvin McCurley and her sisters, Nettie Naramore, Verna Long, Joy McCurley, and Mary Jo Harris, first husband Roy Hill Sr. in 1982 and second husband James Nalley in 2020.

Those left to celebrate her life include her children, Roy P. Hill Jr. and wife Joy of Jonesboro, AR , Cindy Peppers of Tahlequah, and Cindy Kay Peevyhouse of Tahlequah. She lives on in her seven grandchildren, Ssgt Joshua Hill and wife Deanne of California, Jaclyn Flynn of Jonesboro, AR, Randy Lee Peppers Jr. and wife Rebecca of Siloam Springs, AR, Luke Peppers and wife Rebecca of Walnut Ridge, AR, Meagan Jaramillo and husband Mateo of Tahlequah, OK, Madison Peppers and companion Kris Guinn of Tahlequah, and Skylee Scott and companion Makiah Hames of Tahlequah, OK. She leaves ten great grandchildren, Bentley Knox Hill, Annie Wagoner, Zakery Peppers, Brandon McLaughlin, Luken Peppers, Damian Jaramillo, Jacob Johnson, Jayni Guinn, Jenna Guinn, and Alexander Jaramillo. She had recently celebrated the arrival of her first great great grandson, Emmitt Wagoner, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, Laverne and Shirley, and a host of friends and loved ones too numerous to mention.

Funeral services for Cliffie Jean Nalley will be held on Wednesday, June 16th, 2021 at 2:00 PM with Bishop Spencer Johnson officiating. She will have a visitation on Wednesday morning beginning at 8:00 AM until service time at 2:00 PM. She will be laid to rest next to her husband, James Edward Nalley at Park Hill Cemetery in Park Hill, OK. Online condolences for her family may be left at www.reedculver.com.